Get REAL in Community: Why Book Clubs Create Lasting Transformation

We love the idea of personal growth!

Journaling alone.
Listening to podcasts while folding laundry.
Reading books with a highlighter in hand & the best intentions in our hearts.

But here’s the truth most women quietly discover the hard way:
Growth that stays private often stalls.

In Ep. 140 of the Choose On Purpose podcast, I sat down with Nancy Kalsow, creator of the REAL Framework™ & author of Get REAL, to talk about why community based learning, especially book clubs, creates transformation that actually lasts.

Not motivation.
Not inspiration.
Transformation.

Change Is Never One Big Decision

One of the most grounding truths Nancy shared is this:

“Change isn’t one moment. It’s hundreds of tiny choices staying aligned with who you really are.” 

We don’t become different by deciding once.
We become different by choosing again & again.

That’s why the REAL Framework™ matters.
Reflect. Engage. Align. Lead.

Not as a checklist.
As a way of living.

& community is what keeps those choices alive.

Why Growth Gets Stuck When We Go It Alone

Nancy shared vulnerably about her own pattern of doing everything privately. She reflected, processed, decided, & acted without ever speaking her truth out loud.

What was missing wasn’t discipline.
It was engagement.

When growth stays inside your head, it’s easy to confuse rumination for reflection. It’s easy to convince yourself you’re aligned when you’re actually just familiar with the discomfort.

Community interrupts that loop.

Not by fixing you.
But by mirroring you.

When someone says, “I heard you say this… does that still feel true?” something powerful happens. Awareness deepens. Alignment sharpens. Choice becomes conscious. 

Book Clubs Aren’t About Reading Faster

They’re about practicing slower.

Nancy shared how she originally ran her book study in large monthly sections. The feedback was honest: people rushed the reading & skipped the work.

So she changed it.

Now, chapters are practiced weekly.
Space is created to feel, reflect, test, & live the framework.
Growth happens in real time, not in theory.

This is where book clubs become transformational containers.

You don’t just learn.
You embody.

The Power of Being Seen in Process

One of the most beautiful moments in the conversation came when Nancy shared this truth:

“I’m not transforming people. I’m holding space for them to witness themselves.”

That’s the magic of REAL community.

You don’t need someone to tell you who you are.
You need someone willing to sit with you while you remember.

Growth becomes safer when it’s shared.
Leadership becomes clearer when it’s reflected.
Confidence strengthens when it’s practiced aloud.

Why Community Creates Integrity

Engagement creates accountability, not through pressure, but through presence.

When you speak your intentions out loud, you begin to notice:
Am I aligned with what I said?
Am I choosing from who I am now or who I used to be?
Am I leading myself or performing for approval?

Book clubs offer a rare gift in a noisy world:
space to slow down, be honest, and choose again on purpose. 

You Were Never Meant to Grow Alone

Nancy closed the conversation with a reminder that landed deeply:

Everyone needs someone in their corner.

Even the nurturers.
Even the leaders.
Even the women who support everyone else.

Growth sticks when it’s supported.
Transformation lasts when it’s witnessed.
And leadership deepens when it’s practiced in community.

🎧 Tune Into the Full Conversation

If this resonates with you, Episode 140 of the Choose On Purpose podcast is live now.

You’ll hear:

• How the REAL Framework works in real life

• Why reflection without engagement keeps us stuck

• How book clubs turn insight into aligned action

• Why community accelerates confidence & clarity

🎙️ Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts & discover why getting REAL in community might be the missing piece in your growth journey.

& if you’re craving a space where your voice, pace, & process are honored…
this conversation was recorded with you in mind. 💛

Confidence In Action Coach
Becky Plautz
[email protected]